Airline Talks Fail

Flight Attendants May Go On Strike

MIAMI — Flight attendants at Eastern Airlines will be able to strike the carrier on Jan. 20 because of an impasse in bargaining over wages and fringe benefits with the Transport Workers Union.

The impasse was declared Friday by the National Mediation and Conciliation Service after Eastern officials rejected a proposal to submit the issues to arbitration.

Declaration of the impasse triggered a 30-day cooling off period after which the 7,200 flight attendants employed by Eastern and represented by the union`s Local 553 will be free to strike.

Eastern spokesman Glen Parsons said the employees would be notified by mail of Eastern`s decision.

Eastern has claimed it needs substantial concessions from all its unions in order to survive. Chairman Frank Borman said earlier this month that lower fares forced by increased competition could put Eastern in the red for 1985, despite a record profit of $122.3 million in the first six months.

``In essence, what they want to do is turn an 8-hour day into a 10-hour day at a lower rate of pay,`` said TWU Local 553 President Robert Callahan. He said a strike against Eastern was ``a real possibility.``

``It`s not our choice,`` Callahan said.

In addition to the impasse with the flight attendants, Eastern reportedly is far apart in negotiations with the Air Line Pilots Association and representatives of the International Association of Machinists said their three-year contract with the carrier cannot be amended until Dec. 31, 1987.

The Machinists have said they will not grant Eastern any concessions.

Eastern spokesman Jerry Cosley said the airline rejected arbitration with the flight attendants because ``arbitration implies a solution that neither party is happy with. Eastern would rather have an agreement with the TWU that is mutually acceptable.``

Callahan said Eastern was afraid of arbitration because the union ``would come out with an agreement that would be higher than they proposed.``